Auger type ice cube maker

ABSTRACT

A machine for making hard clear ice cubes or other shapes at a relatively rapid rate in which an auger rotating in a stationary freezing chamber having a cylindrical wall advances slush ice toward an indexable cube-forming unit comprising a shaping plate having openings therein into which the slush ice is forced against a spring-loaded pressure plate so that when the ice in the openings has been compressed to a degree at which hard, clear ice forms, the pressure plate is moved to initiate an indexing of the forming unit to a location at which the pressure plate is actuated to eject the cubes to a collecting and storage mechanism.

United States Patent 1191 Krueger et al.

1 51 Oct. 29, 1974 AUGER TYPE ICE CUBE MAKER 3,034,311 5/1962 Nelson62/354 x 3,593,539 ll 1971 F' dl [751 lnvemors Harvey Kmge"carpe'ltelsvuei 3,686,890 sl1972 L y ma ii 62/354 x Charles G. Neumann,Palatme; Peterson Hofiman Estates Primary ExaminerMeyer Perlin 0Attorney, Agent, or FirmShenier & OConnor [73] Assignee: ReynoldsProducts, Inc.,

Schaumburg, Ill. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1972 A machine formaking hard clear ice cubes or other shapes at a relatively rapid ratein which an auger 1'0- [211 App! 314,781 tating in a stationary freezingchamber having a cylindrical wall advances slush ice toward an indexable52 US. Cl. 62/354 cube-forming unit comprising a Shaping Plate having 511m. (:1. F25C 1/14 Openings therein into which the Slush ice is forcedField O Search 62/354, 347, 75, 320, 74; against a spring-loadedpressure plate so that when the 100/147 X 192 ice in the openings hasbeen compressed to a degree at which hard, clear ice forms, the pressureplate is [56] References Cit d moved to initiate an indexing of theforming unit to a UNITED STATES PATENTS location at which the pressureplate is actuated to 530,526 12/1894 Holden 62/354 x elect the cubes toa collectmg and Storage mechamsm' 2,646,594 7/1953 Field 62/345 X 4Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 AUGER TYPE rcE CUBE MAKER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION There are two general types of ice making machines known inthe prior art. The first and more familiar of these is a machine inwhich water is poured into iceforming chambers and issubjected to theaction of a refrigerant until true ice is produced. By true ice is meanthard, clear ice forms. While machines of this type produce high qualityice, they are by their nature extremely inefficient. The reason for theinefficiency of ice cube making machines of this type is the poor heattransfer characteristics of ice itself. When an attempt is made tofreeze a relatively thick piece of ice by direct heat transfer alone, atremendous refrigeration effort is required. For example, theconventional ice cube manufacturing machine requires a one-half horsepower compressor and will produce only approximately 110 pounds of iceper day.

The second principal type of icemaker known in the prior art is one inwhich ice crystals which are scraped from a freezing surface to provideslush ice are forced through a die or the like to produce a rod or rodsof ice which can be broken into pieces. An icemaker of this type isshown for example, in Reynolds U.S. Pat. No. 3,196,624. A machine of thetype shown in the Reynolds patent is a'great deal more efficient than isthe conventional ice cube-making machine described hereinabove. Forexample, the icemaker described in that patent will produceapproximately 300 pounds of ice per day using a one-third horse powercompressor.

While a machine of the type in which slush ice is forced through aforming die is much more efficient than is a conventional ice cubemaker, the former machine produces ice which is inferior in quality tothat produced on the conventional machine. In the art of manufacturingcubes or chunks of ice of various shapes, a very definite distinction ismade in the art between cube ice, such as that produced on theconventional machine and flake ice formed under pressure. The former ishard and clear and regular in nature. On the other hand, the flake iceproduced by machines of the type in which slush ice is compressed toproduce the chunks, the ice is not generally clear, is not regular innature, and is not as hard as cube ice produced on conventionalmachines. The basic reason for that fact is that the ice making deliverycapacity of a machine of the latter type varies with changes in ambienttemperature and with the condition of the refrigerating system. That is,while the rate at which machines of this type deliver ice is constant,the quality of the ice varies considerably.

We have invented an auger ice cuber which overcomes the defects of icemaking machines of the prior art. Our auger ice cuber is adapted to formhigh quality ice shapes in a highly efficient manner. Our cuber is moreefficient than are direct heat transfer ice making machines of the priorart. Our cuber produces a better quality ice than do slush or flake iceproducing machines of the prior art. Our machine permits the shape ofthe ice pieces to be changed with relative ease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of our invention is to provide anauger ice cuber which overcomes the defects of ice chunk producingmachines of the prior art.

Another object of our invention is to provide an auger ice cuber whichproduces cubes or other shapes of ice of high quality in an efficientmanner.

A further object of our invention is to provide an auger ice cuber whichis more efficient than are direct heat transfer ice cube making machinesof the prior art.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an auger ice cuberwhich produces higher quality ice than do slush orflake ice producingmachines of the prior art. A still further object of our invention is toprovide an auger ice cuber which permits the shape of the ice chunksproduced to be changed with relative ease.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from thefollowing description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of an auger ice cubemake in'which a rotating auger scrapes ice crystals from a cylindricalfreezing surface and forwards the resultant slush ice toward aniceforming plate having openings into which the slush ice is forcedagainst the action of the spring-loaded pressure plate which closes theother ends of the openings until the ice has been subjected tosufficient pressure to form hard, clear pieces and to move the pressureplate against the action of its loading springs to initiate an indexingmovement of the forming plate to a location at which the pressure plateis actuated to eject the ice pieces into a collecting and storagemechanism. The ice shaping plate may readily be changed so as to permitthe formation of pieces of different shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings whichform part of the instant specification and which are to be read inconjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used toindicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is an elevation with parts in section of our auger ice cubemaker.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the auger ice maker shown in FIG.1 taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the portion of our auger icemaker shown in FIG. 2 and taken along the lines 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of one form of electrical control circuitwhich may be used with our auger ice cube maker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,our auger ice cube maker, indicated generally by the reference character10, includes a base plate 12 which supports the ice maker systemindicated generally by the reference character 14, and the ice harvestersystem, indicated generally by the reference character 16. The ice makersystem 14 includes a generally cylindrical freezer chamber 18 supportedon a boss 20 at the base of a quill 22. The assembly of the chamber 18and quill 22 is supported on a base plate 24 secured to the upper end ofa gear housing 26. A jacket 28 surrounding the chamber 18 houses therefrigerating coils 30 which are insulated therefrom by a suitableinsulating material 32. A cap 34 closes the upper end of the spaceenclosed by the chamber 18 and the jacket 28. Our machine insystem 16and to move the unit 56 to cludes a frame plate 36 having an opening 35in which cap 34 is located.

The gear box 26 has an output shaft 40 which is connected by a coupler42 to the drive shaft 44. We thread the upper end of an auger 46 to theshaft 44. It will be seen that the quill 22 supports the auger along itslength for rotary movement and that shaft 44 is adapted to drive theauger. We so construct the auger as to have at least three flights whichare adapted to engage the inner surface of chamber 18 to scrape icecrystals from the surface and to advance them upwardly as viewed fromthe FIG. 3 in the form of slush ice.

A nut 48 threaded onto the upper end of a vertical shaft 50 secures anindexing plate 52 to shaft 50 for rotation therewith in a manner to bedescribed. Our machine includes a pair of cube-forming units indicatedgenerally by the respective reference characters 54 and 56, each ofwhich units is mounted on plate 52 so as to be movable therewith. Sincethe two units 54 and 56 are substantially identical, we will describe indetail only the unit 54.

Unit 54 includes an ice shaping plate 58 secured in a suitable openingin indexing plate 52 by means of screws 62. We provide the plate 58 witha plurality of circumferentially spaced ice forming chambers 60 adaptedto receive slush ice being advanced upwardly by the auger 46.

A bolt 64 having a head 66 extends through a central opening in plate 58with its head 66 disposed in a recess 68 below the opening. A key 70 orthe like prevents relative rotation between the bolt 64 and the plate58. A pressure plate 72 is mounted for axial movement rela tive to thebolt 64 by means of a suitable guide 74. The dimensions of the plate 72are such that it normally covers the upper ends of the ice shapingopenings 60. A pile of springs 76 surrounding the guide 74 are adaptedto load the pressure plate 72. A spring loading cap 78 positioned alongthe length of the bolt 64 by means of an adjusting nut 80 determines thepressure exerted by the springs on the plate 72. As will be explainedmore fully hereinafter, we so regulate the pressure exerted by springs76 that plate 72 moves slightly upwardly when hard clear ice pieces havebeen formed in openings 60. In response to that movement the indexingplate is rotated through approximately 180 to move the unit 54 to alocation adjacent the harvesting a location adjacent the ice-formingsystem 14. i

The harvester and storage system 16 includes a harvester drive motor 82and a gear system 84 the output shaft of which drives a shaft 86carrying a sprocket wheel 88 for rotation therewith. A pitch chain 90driven by sprocket wheel 88 drives a sprocket wheel 92 on a shaft 94supported in a thrust bearing 96. Shaft 94 is adapted to be clutched tothe shaft 50 by a clutch 98.

As has been explained hereinabove, when the pressure exerted by theauger 46 on slush ice being forced upwardly into the chambers 60 issufficiently great, hard clear ice forms in the chambers. The pressurerequired to form hard clear ice is sufficiently great to raise the plate72 slightly to actuate a switch 100. Actuhereinbelow, actuation ofswitch 104 deenergizes clutch 98.

As the unit 54 in which hard cubes have been formed arrives at itsposition adjacent to the storage unit 16, a cam 105 on the machine framestrikes the pressure plate to move it downwardly to eject the cubes fromthe openings 60. Cubes thus ejected from the openings pass downwardlythrough a chute 106 to an opening 108 in a reservoir feed tube 110.Cubes moving into the tube 110 are adapted to be advanced upwardly intoa storage chamber 112. To achieve this purpose, we mount a feeding screw114 on the shaft 86 for rotation therewith. Further we provide the upperend of shaft 86 with agitators 116 for preventing the cubes fed upwardlyfrom freezing together.

Referring now to FIG. 4, one form of electrical circuit which may beused to control the operation of our machine includes a pair ofconductors 120 and 122 connected to the terminals 124 and 126 of asuitable source of electrical energy. A push button PB! is adapted to beactuated to energize a relay winding R to close a pair of normally openswitches R1 and R2. Closing of the switch R1 results in concomitantenergization of both the freezing unit drive motor 38 and the storageunit motor 82. Closing of the switch R2 completes a holding circuit forwinding R through a normally closed push button switch PB2 which may beoperated to stop the machine. Closing of switch 100 momentarilyenergizes clutch 98 to couple shaft 94 to the shaft 50. Cam 102 closesswitch 104 after shaft 50 beginss to rotate and provides a holdingcircuit for the clutch 98 for a half revolution of the shaft 50. At theend of that half revolution, switch 104 opens and clutch is deenergized.

In operation of our auger ice cube maker button FBI is pushed toenergize both motors 38 and 82. As motor 38 rotates auger 46 is drivento scrape crystals of ice from the inner surface of the cylindricalfreezing chamber 18. These ice crystals are advanced upwardly as viewedin FIG. 3 in the form of slush ice and are advanced into the openings 60under the pressure of the auger'and against the action of the pressureplate 72. Ultimately, the pressure being exerted on this slush ice issufficiently great to transform theslush ice into hard clear highquality ice. As that occurs, the pressure plate 72 is raised slightly toactuate switch 100 to energize clutch 98 to couple shaft 94 t0 shaft 50.Switch 104 provides a holding circuit for the clutch 98 for a halfrevolution of shaft 50 in the course of which the unit 54 moves fromadjacent to the ice making system 14 to the unloading and harvestingsystem 16. Upon arrival at the harvesting location a cam 105 strikes thepressure plate to eject the ice pieces from the chamber 60 to cause themto fall down chute 106 and into the screw 114 which advances themupwardly to the storage chamber 112.

Our system operates to produce ice of consistently high quality. This isachieved without regard to various conditions of refrigeration such, forexample, as relatively high ambient temperatures, clogged or dirtycondensers and the like. We achieve this resukt by adjusting thepressure exerted by springs 76 on the pressure plate 72. This canreadily be done by turning the nut 80 on the bolt 64. In actual practicewe have found that slush ice can be transformed into a clear hard pieceof ice by compressing it to approximately 1,000 psi. Our machine doesnot deliver ice on a constant basis as do other slush or chip ice makersbut holds the ice back until the necessary compressive force has beenexerted on the slush ice. Operation of the unit is not affected by thedesign of the openings in the ice-forming plate. We can, moreover,readily change the shape of the piece of ice produced merely byreplacing one shaping plate 58 with a shaping plate having openings 60of a different configuration.

it will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention.We have provided an ice cube maker which overcomes the defects of icecube making mechanisms of the prior art. Our auger ice cube makerproduces higher quality pieces of ice than do slush or chip ice makingmachines of the prior art. Our ice maker is more efficient than aredirect heat transfer ice cube making mechanisms of the prior art. Ourmachine combines the advantages of high quality ice with highefficiency. The shape of the pieces of ice produced by our ice maker mayreadily be changed at will.

it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of ourclaims. it is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of our claims without departing from the spiritof our invention. it is, therefore, to be understood that our inventionis not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. Apparatus for forming pieces of hard clear ice including incombination, a forming unit comprising a shaping plate having anopen-ended forming chamber therein, a pressure plate adapted to closeone end of said forming chamber, and means for urging said pressureplate against said forming plate with a predetermined force, meansmounting said forming unit for movement from an ice-making station to aniceharvesting station, means at said ice-making station for urging slushice into the forming chamber through the other end thereof against theaction of said pressure plate to form a clear hard piece of ice in saidforming chamber, means responsive to movement of said pressure plateunder the action of said piece of ice against the action of said urgingmeans for moving said forming unit from said ice-making station to saidharvesting station and means at said harvesting station for actuatingsaid pressure plate to eject said piece of ice.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said shaping plate has a pluralityof forming chambers therein.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said forming unit mounting means anindexing plate having an opening for receiving said shaping plate andmeans detachably mounting said shaping plate in said opening.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said slush ice urging meanscomprises means forming a generally cylindrical ice crystal formingsurface, an auger adapted to scrape ice crystals from said surface andmeans for driving said auger.

1. Apparatus for forming pieces of hard clear ice including incombination, a forming unit comprising a shaping plate having anopen-ended forming chamber therein, a pressure plate adapted to closeone end of said forming chamber, and means for urging said pressureplate against said forming plate with a predetermined force, meansmounting said forming unit for movement from an icemaking station to anice-harvesting station, means at said icemaking station for urging slushice into the forming chamber through the other end thereof against theaction of said pressure plate to form a clear hard piece of ice in saidforming chamber, means responsive to movement of said pressure plateunder the action of said piece of ice against the action of said urgingmeans for moving said forming unit from said ice-making station to saidharvesting station and means at said harvesting station for actuatingsaid pressure plate to eject said piece of ice.
 2. Apparatus as in claim1 in which said shaping plate has a plurality of forming chamberstherein.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said forming unit mountingmeans an indexing plate having an opening for receiving said shapingplate and means detachably mounting said shaping plate in said opening.4. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said slush ice urging meanscomprises means forming a generally cylindrical ice crystal formingsurface, an auger adapted to scrape ice crystals from said surface andmeans for driving said auger.